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Loss Of Power On Layout
Cosmo has a question that has been covered several times before on this blog (see search box). Would a reader like to comment and offer further help:
"My layout is on a 4X8 plywood. At the end away from the transformer, train slows and stops. Why?"
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2 Responses to Loss Of Power On Layout
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Well, I assume you have clean tracks and wheels on your locomotive so it may be that the length of track your trying to power may be too much for your transformer when the train is farthest away.
An easy fix is to run a pair of wires directly from your transformer’s track power terminals to the farthest point of your layout and connect them to the track. Make sure that the wire lengths are as short as possible AND that they are attached in the same way as your original connections (Example for a simple loop: black wires connected to the outside rails, red wires for the inside rails). Be careful NOT to swap the wires or you’ll end up with a short circuit.
Also check that the rail joiners on your track are tight and snug. If the track isn’t fastened down to the table top even just running trains over them can loosen these connections over time resulting in poor electrical conductivity causing in the problem you described.
I agrree with Geof. Also, if you have a lot of switches and other accessories drawing a lot of power, you may want to consider sliting you layout in half by isolating it, and add a second transformer.